QUACK!
Our online duck shop is now open for entries to our "Big Duck" races on 16th May.
Business Duck Race - entry costs £35* and is open to any business who would like to support Calne Lions and advertise their company.
Ducklings Race - entry costs £10* and is open to any youth organisation, school or nursery.
*First time entries are given a duck as part of their entry. Returning entrants reuse their existing duck (if a replacement is needed, there is an additional charge of £6).
We look forward to welcoming ducks old and new to our 2026 flock!
At our general meeting on Tuesday we were pleased to badge up John & Ann as new members of Calne Lions. They have helped with Santa for the last few years and decided they wanted to join the Club. Welcome to Calne Lions!
Calne Lions do great work - we all give to them as they seem to use their donations wisely to do good work. Are your accounts available for public viewing by the way? It would be interesting to see how our donations are being spent.
Welcome to the family of Lions, John and Ann.
Great to see this! 🤩
Enjoy your time with the Lions xx
Last week Calne Lions President, Alison and Secretary, Lion Les visited the Independent Living Centre in Semington.
This excellent charity run centre offers free consultations to anyone in the area looking for help with equipment and technology, which will enable them to retain their independence.
You can make an appointment to see an occupational therapist, who will assess your needs, offer advice and then help you to try out their whole array of equipment to work out what best suits you.
From easy phones, kitchen and bathroom aids, through to electric scooters and stairlifts - they can show you what is available.
Visit the website - ilc.org.uk for more information or phone 01380 871007
Our online Duck Shop is now open!
If you would like to purchase a Business Duck or a Duckling (for children's groups, schools and nurseries) or you are a community group or charity and would like an outdoor pitch on either the Wharf Gardens or Pocket Park then follow the link below.
www.calnelions.org/duck-race/
Jasmin Campion
Yesterday Calne Lions held a skittles event at the Rec to say thank you to our wonderful volunteers who joined us on the streets in December, escorting Santa and spreading the Christmas cheer!
It was a brilliant well-attended afternoon, with lots of laughs had by all. Thank you to all who attended and thank you again for volunteering with Santa (you are already on his nice list for this year!)
Quack!! The Ducks are coming!!
We are working on our Duck Shop and will let you know as soon as it is up and running and ready for tickets, "Big Duck" race entries and Stall pitch purchases.
For now, save the date - Saturday 16th May!!
When will you be open for outdoor stall applications? ☺️
Santa is back at the North Pole for a well earned rest, however Calne Lions still have his sleigh. The past few years it has been sat outside, open to the elements which have taken their toll on the sleigh.
We need to find somewhere undercover to store it until it is needed in December. The sleigh is quite tall, so wherever it is stored will need a high roof. We will also need to be able to access the sleigh, throughout the year, so we can do some repairs and upgrades.
Do you have a barn or large garage with space to house our sleigh?
If you think you can help, please contact Santa@calnelions.org
Leigh Blackman do you know of a space?
easier said then done i know but i think your best bet will be possibly a farmer… see if they have some space under a shelter etc
Try Scotland
This Friday, there is an over 55s Daytime Disco being held in Calne Town Hall.
Calne Lions were pleased to be able to support this event. So get your dancing shoes out and enjoy some company and good tunes!
With the New Year, many people's minds turn to re-evaluating their health and making resolutions to make positive changes.
1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. This disease often does not have symptoms at first, which makes early detection difficult. Regular PSA tests can help to highlight changes which may need further early investigation.
We have limited spaces left for our upcoming Prostate Screening event in March. Tests have been subsidised by Calne Lions and now only cost £10. Booking is essential as we cannot accept walk ins on the day.
For more information see the poster below or head to www.calnelions.org/prostate-screening
On the 12th day of Christmas Calne Lions gives their thanks to the people of Calne.
Although Calne Lions members happily give many hours of volunteering time over the year, we would still not be able to do all that we do without the unfailing support from our community.
Without you coming out to see Santa & making a donation, buying a Duck Race ticket, entering a Big Duck into our Business & Duckling Races, or buying food from our Burger Van, we simply would not have the money to have made a phenomenal £22,333.75 worth of donations and grants in 2025.
If your school, youth group, community group or organisation is in need of help this year, please contact communitysupport@calnelions.org
Wow!! That’s an amazing amount! Fantastic
Well done for all your hard work lions. The money is appreciated by many different groups.
Well done all the Lions, you are a great assett in our town.
Well done and thank you
Amazing.well done
Amazing work! Well done everybody!
On the 11th day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to Children & Families.
Over the year, Calne Lions have made donations to Wiltshire Family Hub, Spurgeons and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. We also funded 150 Christmas boxes from Wiltshire Scrapstore & Resource Centre to be given out to children in 3 local primary schools.
On the 10th Day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to Adult Social Groups.
Calne Lions have supported Heart of Community & Wiltshire Phab Club 16-40. We have helped to fund Age UK Wiltshire's upcoming Daytime Disco and throughout the year our volunteers drive and escort our friends to their fortnightly Kennet Gateway Club, over in Woodborough.
On the 9th day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to Local Community Groups & Clubs.
Calne has so many brilliant clubs & groups we are pleased to support. This year we have given grants to Calne Men's Shed (it's not just for men), The Reconnecting Group, Calne Methodist Church, Forget Me Not Club and Calne Bereavement Group.
Thank you so much it helps fund extra activities for our members. Calne Forget Me Not Club
On the 8th day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to local Sports Teams.
Calne Lions were happy to sponsor Calne Town Under 14s football shirts, help fund Derry Hill Girls Football Tournament and support Derry Hill Under 18s Football Team.
😂😂😂😂 Lions Club... Criticisms of Lions Clubs often center on internal culture issues like politics, gossip, and resistance to change, hindering member engagement, especially for younger generations. Specific complaints include an "old boys' club" feel, lack of diversity in leadership, poor treatment of employees, inflexible structures, high fees, and difficulties attracting new members due to public misunderstanding or an antiquated image. Internal Culture & Leadership: Politics & Gossip: Allegations of internal power struggles, jealousy, and negativity, with leaders sometimes accused of not resolving issues or fostering blame. Outdated Structures: Perceived as stuck in the past (e.g., 1980s), with resistance to new ideas from younger members, leading to stagnation. Lack of Diversity: Leadership roles are often seen as dominated by white individuals, despite member complaints and the organization's global mission. Toxic Leadership: Leaders holding grudges or failing to mentor new members can create a culture that pushes younger Lions away. Membership & Recruitment: "Old Boys' Club" Image: A perception that it's for older members, making recruitment difficult for younger demographics (Millennials, Gen Z). Recruitment Challenges: Difficulty asking people to join due to intimidation or fear of rejection; some members feel they are not effectively showing the joy of service. High Fees/Time Commitment: Costs and perceived demands can deter potential members in tight economic times. Organizational Issues: Employee Treatment: Some employees report poor management, retaliation for reporting issues, and unfair treatment, contrasting with the humanitarian mission. Misunderstanding the Mission: The public often doesn't know what Lions Clubs do, confusing them with other groups (e.g., selling brooms). Internal Politics & Drama: Some members leave due to infighting, with some creating new clubs after conflicts.
Wishing all our Community, Friends and Members a very Happy New Year!
Thank you for your support in 2025, looking forward to an amazing year to come.
On the 7th day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to National & International causes.
The club sponsored Lion Luke on his 26 mile hike in the Brecon Beacons, in aid of Cancer Research UK.
We made a donation to Dorothy House in the name of one of our Members, who had sadly passed away and gone on to greater service.
The Club made a donation to LCIF - Lions Clubs International Foundation, which send much needed financial aid to local Lions Clubs to help in the immediate aftermath of major disasters, worldwide. These clubs are best placed to affect essential help, on the ground, wherever it is most needed.
In addition to this, our members volunteered their time to collect on behalf of both Marie Curie and the Royal British Legion.
On the 6th day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to Carers in the Community.
We were happy to be able to support those people whose lives revolve around caring for others, giving grants to Youth Action Wiltshire (Young Carers) and Wiltshire Carer Support.
In the new year maybe you would all like to come on a Wednesday walk with us and see more about what we do and offer 💙
Hi Leigh is this open to women too? 😊
Criticism of the Lions Club often centers on internal issues like politics, toxic leadership, lack of modernization (especially digital outreach), high fees, and difficulty attracting younger members, despite its strong humanitarian reputation (Charity Navigator gives a high score). Members report struggles with outdated structures, entrenched "old guard" attitudes, internal power plays, and a disconnect from modern engagement strategies, making it hard to retain new, diverse members, notes several Facebook posts, discussions on Quora, and an employee review on Glassdoor. Key Areas of Criticism Internal Politics & Leadership: Issues include self-serving members using the club as a shield, toxic leaders (grudges, unforgiveness), and a focus on "money power" over service, hindering growth and mentorship. Outdated Practices: Many feel the organization is stuck in the past, failing to use digital tools for publicity and member engagement, and lacking modern orientation for new recruits. Member Engagement & Retention: High fees, intimidation about asking for new members, and a "1980s experience" push younger members away, leading to decline. Lack of Modernization: A "tech divide" exists, with many leaders unaware of social media's power, limiting their reach, say contributors to the LCI Cyber Clubs Facebook group. Workplace Culture (Internal): Employee reviews mention hostile environments, harassment, and retaliation, contrasting sharply with the humanitarian mission.
On the 5th Day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to local Mental Health Groups.
Calne Lions have supported Calne Men's Walking & Talking Group, The Mind Tree Cafe and Man Down Wiltshire.
So many people in Calne with mental health problems...
On the 4th Day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to local Schools.
We have been proud to support Marden Vale, Fynamore, Hilmarton & Derry Hill schools with their various projects and trips.
On the 3rd day of Christmas Calne Lions gave to Youth Groups.
We were pleased to support both 1st Calne Boys Brigade & Girls Assn. and Calne Army Cadets in their important work with the town's young people.
